Decision XXXIII/4: Enhancing the global and regional atmospheric monitoring of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol

Noting with appreciation decision VC XII/1 of the parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer approving the recommendations of the Ozone Research Managers of the Parties to the Vienna Convention at their eleventh meeting,

Recalling decision XXX/3 on unexpected emissions of trichlorofluoromethane (CFC‑11) and decision XXXI/3 on unexpected emissions of CFC-11 and institutional processes to be enhanced to strengthen the effective implementation and enforcement of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,

Noting with appreciation the Scientific Assessment Panel’s “white paper” entitled “Closing the gaps in top-down regional emissions quantification: needs and action plan”, 1

To request the Ozone Secretariat, in consultation with relevant experts from the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and the Ozone Research Managers, to provide the following information to the parties at the forty-fifth meeting of the Open‑ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, to be held in 2023, and to report on the progress of work at the forty-fourth meeting of the Open‑ended Working Group:

  1. Options for the regional monitoring of atmospheric concentrations of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol, based on the existing information provided by the Scientific Assessment Panel and the Ozone Research Managers, and the challenges for operationalizing relevant recommendations;
  2. The identification of suitable locations for possible high-frequency measurements and flask sampling for regions not, or not sufficiently, covered by existing atmospheric monitoring, with a view to strengthening monitoring capacity and networks;
  3. Options for possible means of establishing new monitoring capacity and related costs, taking into account existing monitoring infrastructure.

1 UNEP/OzL/Conv.ResMgr/11/4/Rev.1, annex..